Educational Opportunities abound for college students at Brook Hill Farm. It is not only important to rehabilitate unwanted horses, but also to educate the public on equine welfare, and how horses can provide amazing benefits for people with disabilities. Brook Hill Farm can help more horses through educating the public than the farm can physically house. The farm offers a unique opportunity for personal growth and equine education for college students, and is pleased to offer the following college programs.

College Interns

In collaboration with regional schools including Virginia Tech, Randolph College, University of Lynchburg, Sweet Briar, and Liberty University, the farm provides many opportunities for college students to participate in a variety of internships which earn them college credit in many fields. Brook Hill Farm averages 4-6 interns per semester. The internships are tailored to meet their individual needs.

Pre-Vet and Vet Tech Students

Students interested in Veterinary medicine are given their own “case load”, working closely with the Veterinarians and staff. These students will gain extensive experience working with the equines on the farm, which gives them valuable large animal experience that will help them when applying to Vet School. This internship can also help to meet the requirements for a Vet Tech degree.

Pre-Med and Biology

Students interested in medicine and biology can pursue internships at Brook Hill Farm. The young lady in the picture is getting her PhD in Veterinarian Medicine, not as a Veterinarian, but as a research scientist.

Psychology, Social Work and Counseling

Many college interns with backgrounds in Psychology, Sociology, and Counseling are working with at-risk youth and students with special needs in the Equine Assisted Activity Programs.

Education

Education majors are able to tutor students in academics during the United Neigh and Schooling with Horses program, using experiential learning experiences to help the students.

Horse Trainer and Riding Instructor

Interns interested in becoming trainers or instructors can get hands on experiences at Brook Hill Farm. The interns help the staff to re-train the rescue horses for new jobs to guarantee successful adoptions. Interns interested in becoming a riding instructor, for the general population or for adaptive riding, participate in teaching actual lessons. The instructors that have interned at Brook Hill Farm have gone on to have successful careers in the industry, and always come back to the farm to tell us what a valuable experience it was to participate in the Brook Hill program!

Lynchburg University Bonner Program

Brook Hill Farm is proud to be a part of the University of Lynchburg’s Bonner Program. Bonner students commit to four years helping to meet community needs. The students participate in weekly training and leadership development on campus, and then spend many hours serving area non-profits. As a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing horses and providing equine assisted activities, Brook Hill Farm is the perfect opportunity for Bonner’s to accomplish their program requirements!

Community Service

Many colleges and universities require community service hours. Brook Hill Farm welcomes all students and guarantees their hours with hands-on experience. For example, Liberty University requires their students to participate in the CSER (Christian/Community Service, CSER program) designed to enhance the student’s education experience.

College Course Offerings

Dedicated to the mission of education, it is only natural that Brook Hill Farm has established a strong connection with local colleges. The Executive Director is an Adjunct Professor at Randolph College, teaching “Introduction to Equine Science”, and “Equine Assisted Activities”. She has been been a guest graduate lecturer at the University of Lynchburg, and has taught enrichment classes at Central Virginia Community College.